The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-08-31
Story of a New York Family.


When I came to New York Robert
Lenox was the leading name in this vi
door-plate that bore his name. He still
retained a business office, though he
had long since retired, and he was then
a very rich man, being estimated at
100000. On Sunday this family af-
forded an interesting spectacle as
the parents, with their three daughters
and their only son, shy, taciturn
youth, walked up Broadway to Wall
street and then turned down to what is
called the Wall street church, which
stood near Nassau street. Robert
Lenox was a ruling elder and a
trustee and a liberal contributor.
James Lenox was then a mere
student or book-worm, but his re-
cluse habits were ascribed by the public
to pride, whereas this love of retirement
was natural and remained in full power
all his life. The preacher at the Wall
street church was William w. Phillips,
a man of fine personal appearance and
great eloquence. He came from Florida,
Montgomery county, and for many
years held leading position in the
metropolitan clergy. Under his preach
ing the character of the future philan-
thropist was formed, and the regard
the latter felt for his pastor is shown by
his erecting what is still called the
Phillips memorial church. After
Robert LenoX's death the congregation
moved up town, the new site being the
corner of Fifth avenue and Tenth street,
which then was almost in the suburbs.
Now, however, it is so far down town
that another removal seems necessary.
From the Battery to Canal street the
distance is just one mile, and from
thence to Union square is another mile.
Canal street then, however, was up
town, while Union square was out of
town. No wonder, therefore, that Rob-
ert LenoX was much annoyed by his
farm at the five-mile stone, whose chief
product was wild shrubbery and taxes
Five miles from the Battery and three
miles beyond Union square! Yet a
hope sometimes cheered the old man
that it might pay to hold it, and he gave
his son an injunction to the same eff
| feet in his will. Occasionally on q
fine day Robert LenoX's carriage wa;
seen rolling up Broadway, and then the
public knew he was going out to sec
this land at the five-mile stone. Thi:
stone stood in the old Middle road, now
Fifth avenue, and as a few squatters
had gathered there it afforded hope tC
the old man that it might attract still
better population. He says in his will
" give and devise to my son, my only
son, James LenoX, my farm at the five
mile stone," and he adds d" firm per
suasion that it may at no distant day
be the site of village; and as it cos
me much more than its present worth
from circumstances known to my fam
lily, | like to cherish the belief that i
may be realized to them. AT all events
| want the experiment made by keep
ing the property from being sold"
The purchase of the farm at the five
mile stone was due to personal sacri
flee which Robert LenoX made for
friend. A tract of wild land was to be
sold under foreclosure, and it was b,
no means probable that it would brin!
the amount of the claim. Rather thai
see the mortgage lose anything tn,
generous merchant bid the full amour
of the debt, and thus became the owne
of twelve acres at cost of sc, 420. TIL
market value of this plat was hardl
more than one-tenth of that sum, TO
the loan had been made during tim
of imitation and the sale took plac
during the inevitable shrinkage tina
followed. In this manner LenoX foun
an elephant on his hands, which he de
termined to hold until it could take car
of itself. He was led by examination
of the surrounding property to see tina
his plat could be improved in shape b
adding an equal area on the north, an
, he therefore purchased twelve acre
: adjacent, paying for the entire traC
, the sum of $500. Rather cheap, tn
, reader will eXclaim, but this was sevent
J years ago, and the land was so unprt
| ductive that it was of but little value fC
J crops, which was all that then could b
3 expected.
Robert Lenox had held the farl
= twenty-five years when his death toe
| place. His son soon afterward move
; up to the corner of Fifth avenue an
' Tenth street, where he passed the r.
D mainder of his life. He was a mi
! nearer the farm, which was slowly il
: creasing in value. No village ev,
y gathered there, but when Central pan
was laid out the LenoX farm was foun
}, to include the finest building proper
g (or dwellings, in the city. The entil
;. front of six blocks faced the park, al
s these lots were the choicest part
S Fifth avenue. The five-mie stone far
h thus became LenoX Hill, the center
: opulent and aristocratic society.
d 1864 James Lenox began selling lot
" his object being to get the estate in
n shape that would give his sister Gar
heir as little trouble as possible. /
: continued these sales until large pa
" of the farm was disposed of, the pr
Il ceeds being more than S3,000,0O0; b
= besides these sales he gave to the Pre-